What it takes to be the hero in a novel

Layla Was Here

Yes of course that sounds high schoolish. And strictly speaking, I didn’t break anything. I simply picked open the padlock on one of the four lockers in the women’s restroom in the basement of the building where I work. No malice was involved. There was no theft or damage. They’re for women to use TEMPORARILY when they work out in the exercise room just down the hall. I assume the neighboring men’s room has the same arrangement.

The problem is, about a year ago some unknown female permanently claimed one locker by clamping a padlock on it. A few ladies complained. The building manager sent out a memo reminding people that the lockers are for TEMPORARY use.

The padlock remained.

So the other day I pulled out my lock picking kit and a few minutes later I made that pesky little padlock snap open.

Damn, but I love the sound of a picked lock opening.

There were only a few items of clothing in the locker. I left them alone and neatly placed on top of them my calling card. Then I closed the locker and slipped the padlock back into place and locked it. My card says, in an elegant art deco font, “Layla Was Here.” I got the idea from my savvy blog friend Robert.

I hope my card freaks out that locker-squatter. I also wish that by now I’d used these cards in more dramatic and daring circumstances. But hey, I’ve been busy and ya got to start somewhere.

Just for fun, I picked open a few locks at my job. I couldn’t get past the server door (yet), but it was easy pickings on the big “security” HON brand cabinet that stores our laptops, cameras and other tech stuff. Ditto for a big “security” HON filing cabinet. I opened both in under a minute.

Of course I also have keys to all these office locks. But where’s the challenge with a key?

Man, I love a girl that can pick a lock and leave a calling card!! That is so cool!! to heck with girly girls in low cut tops, 4″ heeled boots and red European convertible sports cars. Give me a girl that can get me into my house when I’m flying higher than a kite and I can’t find my keys.

My Plan for 2013

I’m a writer, author of The Compass Master, and this blog had been a record of my efforts to be like its action hero Layla Daltry. I did everything from skydiving to picking locks to bashing myself up in sports like parkour. But 2013 will be my do-or-die year. If Compass or my two forthcoming Charity MacCay novels don't sell fabulously well, I'm giving up writing. Forever. Except maybe blogging.